Meet New Zealand’s first commercial manufacturer of lentivirus
BioViros CEO Marina Rajič is an old hand when it comes to commercializing scientific research. Which is a good thing because she’s going to need every ounce of her experience to tackle her next challenge.
From pharmaceutical engineering in Serbia to Massey Ventures
Marina went to university to learn how to make life-saving drugs. Studying pharmaceutical engineering at the Faculty of Technology in Novi Sad in Serbia, she became fascinated by microbiology. Discovering Jasna Rakonjac’s work on phage at Massey University, Marina joined her lab for a doctorate degree. There she did a PhD on the development and applications of filamentous phage-derived particles in immunotherapy and diagnostics.
During that journey Marina gravitated towards the commercialisation of scientific research. She was one of the founding members of the Wellington Momentum Student Investment Committee, before working with Massey Ventures as a commercialisation manager. She became immersed in New Zealand’s blossoming biotech ecosystem, including the Return on Science Biotech and Pharma Investment Committee.
Support to set up Lentivirus manufacturing in New Zealand
After a move to biotech company Leukocare AG in Munich where she worked as a business development manager, Marina returned to New Zealand in March 2022. A serendipitous conversation with Bridgewest GM John Robson about the need to make lentiviral vectors in New Zealand, became the genesis of BioViros.
Marina recalls, “John told me about the biotech puzzle Bridgewest Ventures is piecing together in New Zealand. You have BioOra working on CAR-T cell therapy, Nanophage Technologies tackling diagnostics, and Precision Chroma focusing on biological purifications. Putting all these pieces together you can see one of the things missing is a New Zealand-based producer of viral vectors.”
This challenge ticks all the boxes for me, it’s microbiology, it taps into my science commercialisation experience, and the manufacturing side ties back to my pharmaceutical engineering background. It all just clicked together in that particular moment. So now, through partnering with Bridgewest Ventures and supported by the Callaghan Innovation Deep Technology Programme, I will be working on putting together a team and establishing lentivirus manufacturing in New Zealand.”
- Marina Rajič
Making New Zealand gene and cell therapy self-sustaining
Lentiviral vectors are used in cell and gene therapy both in vivo and ex vivo therapy. For ex vivo applications the virus is used to transform a patient's cells outside of the body. Modified cells are then used as part of therapy and re-introduced into the patient. BioOra’s use of CAR-T cells for cancer immunotherapy is a good example. In vivo therapy, on the other hand, would use the viral vector as a final product delivering genetic information directly into desired tissues where it makes genetic changes. BioViros’ goal is to establish a lentivirus manufacturing facility that complies with current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) from the FDA, to produce lentiviral vectors for both types of treatments.
There are many well-established lentivirus manufacturers, but there is also a growing demand. Marina explains, “Here, at the end of the world, we have to wait at least a year to get high grade lentivirus. Even working with companies in Australia we still have massive delays because cell and gene therapy is booming, and everyone is snowed under with orders. So, if we want to speed up clinical trials in New Zealand, we have to be self-sustainable.”
Helping reduce waiting lists and the cost of therapies
BioViros is working to become New Zealand’s first commercial manufacturer of lentivirus vectors, helping companies developing cell and gene therapies get customized vectors faster and more affordably, which will in turn reduce waiting times and the cost of treatment for patients.
Many diseases can be targeted for cell and gene therapy, and lentiviral vectors could play a key role. The FDA has approved several CAR-T therapies from Janssen and Novartis, that use self-inactivating lentiviral vectors, for treatments of relapsed multiple myeloma and follicular lymphoma. There is also ongoing work on the use of lenti vectors in therapies for beta-thalassemia, cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy, as well as haemophilia.
Marina explains how lentiviral vectors fit into cell and gene therapy.
“Lentivirus is a vehicle to deliver genetic information to mammalian cells. Take CAR-T therapy as an example. In this cell therapy lentivirus is used to deliver RNA information into the cells to express the desired chimeric antigen on the T-cell surface. Then you use those white blood cells in a therapy to re-insert them into the patient to fight a disease like cancer.”
- Marina Rajič
One of the most valuable aspects of BioViros’ offer is their plan to customize lentiviral vectors. Every production run will be adapted to a customer's specific needs to edit a particular gene, for a completely customized virus delivery system.
The biotech revolution and the era of personalisation
Marina explains why she was willing to go all in on BioViros with Bridgewest. “We are definitely on the same wavelength. I like to move fast and get things done, and this is what Bridgewest does best. I also really appreciate their support every step of the way. We work as a team, there is strong mutual trust and I know I can count on them as much as they can count on me.”
“Bridgewest has this long-term vision, and it is not based on immediate return. Something like curing cancer is not a five-year fix, it is more of a 15 year plan. Bridgewest cares about creating long-term value and giving back to humanity, and that is something I am excited about.”
- Marina Rajič
“Marina first met the Bridgewest team at Massey Ventures as we supported science projects she was nurturing for commercialisation. So, she already knew us, trusted us, and enjoyed working with us” John Robson commented.
Looking at the big picture, Marina says “We’ve had different revolutions throughout history: the industrial revolution, the digital revolution, and now we are going through the biotech revolution. We have also come to realize everything is more effective when it’s personalized, from diet and exercise, to how people learn, to what drugs work. Therefore, we are getting into more niche personalisation when it comes to curing diseases. What Bridgewest is doing is going with the biotech ecosystem in New Zealand will be massively valuable.”
To learn more about BioViros visit: https://www.bioviros.com/
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